More than 130 investors and entrepreneurs gathered in Leeds last week for the second "Early-Stage Northern Showcase," a collaborative event organised by GC Angels and Bruntwood SciTech.

Hosted at Nexus, the University of Leeds’ innovation hub, the event provided a platform for over 70 early-stage businesses from across the North of England to connect with 60 investors and financial institutions. The initiative aims to address regional funding disparities by increasing the visibility of Northern enterprises to capital providers typically based in London and the South East.

The showcase follows the success of GC Angels’ Venture Forward accelerator programme, which supports underrepresented founders. The agency reported that nine participants from the programme’s inaugural cohort secured a combined £3.1 million in funding within three months of completion. Recruitment for the third cohort is scheduled to begin in late June, with a six-week delivery period starting in September.

The event featured a programme of panel discussions—including one addressing gender diversity in investment—and a "reverse pitch" session, where investors presented their own investment criteria to founders to demystify the fundraising process.

Marc Shirman, Head of Equity Investment at GC Angels, said: "Access to the right investment networks remains one of the biggest challenges for ambitious founders outside London. The North is home to exceptional businesses, but greater visibility among investors can make a significant difference to their growth and fundraising prospects.

"By bringing together active investors and high-growth businesses through events like this and our Venture Forward accelerator programmes, we're creating valuable opportunities for founders to build relationships, understand investor expectations and accelerate their fundraising journeys. The quality of businesses on display demonstrates the depth of innovation and entrepreneurial talent that exists across our region."

Katherine Megson, Head of Innovation & Growth at Bruntwood SciTech, said: "The North is home to some of the UK's most exciting and innovative early-stage businesses, but unlocking their full potential requires greater connectivity between founders, investors and ecosystem partners.

"At Bruntwood SciTech, we're committed to creating the environments, communities and opportunities that help ambitious businesses scale. This showcase is a powerful example of what can be achieved when organisations work collaboratively to champion regional innovation and attract investment into Northern businesses.

"By bringing investors and founders together in Leeds, we're continuing to demonstrate the strength of the Northern ecosystem and reinforcing the message that world-class businesses can be built and scaled from anywhere."

The showcase was attended by representatives from the British Business Bank, Innovate UK, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and local government bodies, reflecting a broader effort to integrate regional growth strategies with private investment.